The current Ford Mustang has been in production, and has sold in large numbers, since the 2015 model year. Its blend of classic American muscle car feel and modern sensibilities has allowed the Mustang to enter markets its predecessors never could. Now, for the 2018 model year, Ford has decided to capitalize on this with a thorough refresh of the Mustang. This is no simple facelift. Aside from the cosmetic changes, improvements have been made throughout the car to increase its already dramatic appeal. The most exciting of these improvements, of course, comes in the form of power.

The Mustang is available with a range of engines to choose from, but for the sake of burning rubber and tire smoke, we’ll focus on the biggest one: the Mustang GT’s 5-liter, naturally-aspirated V8. Ford has not released any specific stats on the new car just yet, but the outgoing GT was capable of 435 horsepower and 390 lb ft. The new GT’s more powerful, higher-revving engine will send its power to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or ten-speed automatic transmission. It’s safe to expect a 0-60 time in the low 4-second range and a top speed that’s electronically limited to the mid-160s. These are strong numbers, especially in this price bracket.

The aforementioned ten-speed gearbox is brand new, and the manual has been revised to handle the higher torque of the new Mustang’s engine. Outside of the drivetrain, a number of improvements have been made to the suspension in the hopes of improving both handling and ride quality. Ford’s Magneride suspension is available on the GT for the first time, meaning an advanced set of adaptive dampers are finally available on a Mustang without a Shelby badge.

The most apparent change to the Mustang is a variety of styling retouches. The front bumper has been revised, and is more angular than ever, while new cooling vents can be found on the hood. Around the back, the GT features an optional spoiler similar to the brutal Shelby GT350R. Also like the GT350, the new Mustang features a mean-looking set of quad exhaust pipes worked into its diffuser. New wheels complete the refreshed look, which will certainly split opinions. While I think the new car’s rear is an improvement over the outgoing model, the front end is a step back aesthetically. This Mustang will go on sale later this year, likely with a small premium in price above the current model. For all the latest on fast Fords, as well as everything else that makes gearheads smile, stay tuned to Oh So Lofty.